A GROUP of amateur actors in Hesketh Bank were overwhelmed when demand for their panto forced them to put on a third performance – despite one cast member’s broken ankle.

Organisers of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at All Saints Church, Station Road, Hesketh Bank, had to frantically ring all the cast to ensure everybody could make a Saturday matinee.

Nearly 400 tickets were sold in three weeks, smashing the group’s expectations and leaving audiences wanting more. They will now perform an additional date at All Saints Church Hall tomorrow at 2pm as well as the sell-out shows on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7.30pm.

Panic struck the cast when the show’s green-faced Troll, Lesley Jackson, who is also training to be one of the church’s readers, fell down the steps at home ten days ago.

Despite a trip to the hospital and a broken ankle, Lesley turned up to rehearsals on Sunday playing her Trollish part on crutches, with green and black stripy socks covering her injury.

Other cast members include farm worker Harry Neale as Lord Chamberlain, officer worker Sally Higham as Snow White and retired Eddie Southern as Dame Dora Dumpling. Mr Neale, who works for a local farmer, also created the show’s ambitious scenery.

Sunday school leader and farmer’s wife Mary Scambler, who worked alongside co-organiser Helen Wrigley on the panto, is delighted with the community’s support.

She said: “We weren’t expecting a sell-out. When we’ve done them in the past, they’ve been in December but January is more popular because people might be trying to recapture the Christmas cheer a bit. All the proceeds will be split between Derian House Children’s Hospice and our church.”

The cast which ranges from a two-year-old singer to 67-year-old Dame Dora, includes 33 children, some who play the dwarfs.

Sunday school children under five will also grace the stage for a rendition of Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

Judith Southern, whose husband is playing Dame Dora, is responsible for the raffle and cannot believe the show’s popularity.

She said: “They do the panto every two years but this year, they’ve gone overboard. It’s the biggest success the panto has ever been and tickets for the extra performance are also going quite well. We can’t wait.”

Tickets for the matinee cost £3.50 for adults,£2.50 for children and concessions and are available from Mary on 01772 812685 or from Cath at the Country Garden shop in Hesketh Bank Village.

See next Friday’s Southport Visiter for audience reaction and panto pictures.